Riot yob who looted Lush, O2 and Shoezone then attacked BMW with terrified Romanians inside is... (original) (raw)

A man pictured looting a branch of cosmetics chain Lush while wearing a 'distinctive' England flag T-shirt during riots in Hull has been jailed for 56 months as courts impose tougher sentences for those involved in the scenes that shamed Britain.

John Honey, 25, helped attack a BMW carrying three Romanian men alongside David Wilkinson, 48, another member of the 'baying mob' who has been jailed for six years.

And 45-year-old Paul Williams has been jailed for 26 months after threatening riot police while hurling metal fencing and hurling a can of beer at them.

The tougher sentences come after a second person was charged with the tougher charge of rioting rather than violent disorder - a more serious offence for which sentences of up to 10 years can be imposed.

And police forces across the country are continuing to issue photographs of suspects they want to track down in relation to the widespread riots that were fuelled by misinformation and far-right thuggery online - leaving no stone unturned in order to bring the yobs who wrecked town centres to justice.

John Honey has been jailed for more than four and a half years after admitting looting shops in Hull including an O2 phone store

He was also seen raiding a branch of beauty shop Lush - carrying bath bomb gift sets and even a selection of other goods in a carrier bag

He was also seen trying to wrench open the door of the BMW as it was attacked by other rioters

John Honey's (left) and David Wilkinson's (right) mugshots after they were snared by Humberside Police

Paul Williams, 45, was jailed for two years and two months after threatening riot police during what a judge called an 'orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder'

Newcastle Crown Court was told Williams had only nipped into the city centre for a takeaway

John Honey - labelled 'Britain's most shameless rioter' for the way he gormlessly looted a beauty shop - also admitted targeting a garage, leaving nine vehicles damaged, and pushing bins at police lines during the disorder on August 3.

Honey pleaded guilty to violent disorder and three charges of burglary at Lush, an O2 store and Shoezone.

He also admitted racially aggravated criminal damage over the BMW incident, and damaging nine other cars during an attack on a garage.

The court previously heard that Honey boasted to one shop employee he was 'famous and all over social media', as images of his looting spree went viral.

He was described in a letter written by the officer to a judge as 'over-confident' and someone who 'presented with no remorse'.

Footage of the BMW incident showed Honey pulling the passenger door open as a man inside tried to close it to protect himself.

Three Romanian occupants of the car got out with their hands raised in a gesture of surrender and fled to a nearby hotel, the court heard.

The driver said he feared for his life after more than 100 'angry' men attempted to drag him from the car, punched him in the head and attempted to strike him with a metal bar.

At a previous hearing, the court was played footage of Honey looting soap store Lush, where he could be seen taking one of its branded bags and walking around the shop filling it with products.

A victim impact statement from the manager of the Lush store said the incident had 'massively impacted' the staff, some of whom 'cannot bring themselves to come back to the store as they are frightened it will happen again'.

The probation officer also detailed how Honey had described how he 'went into Greggs to have a drink as the pepper spray made him thirsty'.

A sentencing hearing earlier in the week was adjourned after a prison probation officer said Honey had asked him 'if he wanted his autograph because he was famous'.

Riot police guard the O2 store in Hull town centre after it was ransacked by thugs including John Honey

A Shoezone store was also devastated by rioters - who had originally taken to the streets under the pretence of protecting children in the wake of the Southport stabbings

Hull the morning after the riots earlier this month. Less than two weeks later, convictions are already being secured and sentences handed down

Thugs rioted in Sunderland on August 2 - throwing flares and missiles. Later, a car was overturned and set alight

A car burns in Sunderland town centre following the riots. Many arrests have been made in the days since the shameful disorder

Firefighters tackle a fire in Sunderland after a Citizens Advice office was torched by thugs

The court was told that his moment of bravado could have undermined Honey's claim of being 'genuinely remorseful'.

But after hearing that Honey had developmental issues due to his 'difficult start in life', Judge John Thackray KC said his alleged comment 'does not have the significance it would otherwise have'.

The judge told Honey: 'I'm not going to hear any evidence about comments which you may or may not have made in the prison setting.

'I'm not going to give them any relevance. If your defence say that there is now genuine remorse, I'll accept that submission.'

Wilkinson was jailed for six years - the toughest sentence yet - after admitting he played a 'prominent role' in the violence and disorder in Hull.

At other points during the day of disorder, Wilkinson spat, threw missiles and pushed wheelie bins at a police line protecting a hotel known to house asylum seekers.

He appeared to be holding nunchucks - a martial arts weapon - at one point, it was said.

Meanwhile, lawyers for shirtless riot yob Paul Williams A 45-year-old man who was at the 'forefront' of an 'orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder' in Sunderland had only popped into the city centre to collect a takeaway, a court has heard.

Paul Williams, 45, was jailed for two years and two months on Friday by a judge who heard how he threw metal fencing and a can of beer at police after goading officers during the rioting in the city on August 2.

Newcastle Crown Court was shown video of Williams, of Esdale, Sunderland, acting aggressively towards lines of police during the widespread disorder.

The court heard how Williams shouted 'put your shields down and let's go, let's f****** go' and took his shirt off as he squared up to police, running at the line of riot shields.

Sophie Allinson, defending, said her client had not been aware of any protest and had gone into Sunderland city centre to collect takeaway food after a spot of gardening in the sun.

The O2 store in Hull was ransacked by rioters who are now facing the prospect of being locked up for years

Police vans block the street in Sunderland following the violent disorder for which Paul Williams has become one of the first to be sentenced

Ms Allinson said her client's 'moment of madness' was down to having drunk eight cans of lager and pointed out that, earlier in the afternoon, he had been chatting with police officers, sharing his disgust at the mayhem which was escalating.

She said it was 'utterly bizarre' that he then 'changed his behaviour in the most disgraceful fashion', becoming the 'front-runner' of the mob.

The barrister said her client, who admitted violent disorder, has no political opinions around immigration and was 'entirely unaware of the basis of what started this'.

Judge Paul Sloan KC said Williams was part of 'an orgy of mindless destruction, violence and disorder'.

He noted that the defendant's behaviour appeared to spur on the rest of the mob, saying it was 'clearly inflaming the situation the square', especially after he removed his shirt.

The judge rejected Ms Allinson's submissions that her client's prison sentenced should be suspended due to the caring responsibilities he has for his son.

The tough sentences came as a second riot charge was brought by police - leaving violent disorder suspects across the country awaiting news on whether they will be accused of the more serious offence.

Judge John Thackray KC said prosecutors should look at charging people with riot instead of violent disorder - which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison rather than five.

He said during a sentencing hearing at Hull Crown Court this week: 'The prosecution do need to look, for those who are playing front and central roles, at the alternative charge of riot rather than violent disorder.'

Meanwhile, the manhunt continues for scores of people involved in the violent disorder that plagued the country for two weeks in the wake of the Southport stabbings that killed three girls in July.

Police in Rotherham have released new images of 14 men they wish to speak to in connection with a riot in Rotherham that saw a Holiday Inn Express being used to house asylum seekers stormed by thugs.

South Yorkshire Police says its investigation into the disturbance on August 4, which saw the hotel stormed, its windows smashed and fires set as looters went hunting for immigrants to attack.

At least one guest in the hotel was physically attacked and repeatedly punched until police were able to clear the floor, the Times reported.

Several people have already been convicted in connection with the deeply disturbing incident, which prompted Sir Keir Starmer to label the incident and others like it in the wake of the Southport stabbings 'far-right thuggery'.

Disturbing videos from the scene showed masked men shouting and threatening to slit asylum seekers' throats, while other images appeared to show thugs setting fires before blocking emergency exits, terrifying residents and staff.

South Yorkshire Police is hunting suspects in the Rotherham riots that saw thugs attempt to storm a hotel

Hundreds of people were involved in the disturbance, which targeted a hotel housing around 200 asylum seekers

At least one guest in the hotel was physically attacked and repeatedly punched until police were able to clear the floor

A number of convictions have already been secured following earlier appeals by South Yorkshire Police after the August 4 incident

More than 50 police officers were left injured as a result of the riot, which saw windows smashed in and asylum seekers fearing for their lives as the mob, whipped up by far-right rhetoric online, sought to storm the hotel.

Some scrawled aggressive graffiti on its walls, writing 'scum' and 'get out England' while others set bins alight and hurled them at hotel windows.

Locals labelled those responsible as 'far-right scumbags' when interviewed by CNN.

One told the American channel: 'A couple of days leading up to the event there were social media posts about 'bringing the violence,' 'it's time to start smashing up the hotel'... It was obvious it was going to happen.'

The riots were stoked as misinformation about the Southport stabbing suspect circulated online - claiming, falsely, that he was a Muslim asylum seeker and giving a fake name.

It was shared by a number of high-profile far right figures online and a Russian-affiliated 'news' website.

Combined with long-driven rhetoric that blamed asylum seekers for the problems facing many Brits - from the cost of living to the struggle to find a house - it was the spark that lit a years-old powder keg.

Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old born in Cardiff and living in Banks, Lancashire, has been charged with murdering Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.

He has also been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

Prosecutors have been swift in acting on rioters who have terrified locals in towns and cities across the country in the wake of the July 29 stabbings, with 460 people having appeared in court over the riots and at least 99 already sentenced.

More than 300 people have appeared in court since last week, according to Ministry of Justice figures.

More than 50 police officers were left injured as a result of the riot, which saw windows smashed in and asylum seekers fearing for their lives

Some of the images in the appeal have been derived from CCTV. Others appear to have been extracted directly from police officers' bodyworn cameras

South Yorkshire Police has said its investigation continues 'at pace'. It has vowed to find all of those involved in violent disorder or rioting

Convictions continue to pour in as many of those involved in the widespread disorder made guilty pleas at the earliest opportunity, ensuring sentencing would be swift.

Some, however, have entered not guilty pleas meaning their cases will proceed to a full trial.

Today, a 28-year-old man who threw bricks, stones and wood at police in Hartlepool was jailed for two years and eight months.

How many people have appeared in court in connection with riots?

Following widespread civil unrest at the end of July and the start of August, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in connection with offences including violent disorder, assault and rioting - the latter of which can carry up to a 10 year sentence in prison.

As of Thursday August 15:

Source: PA/Ministry of Justice

Aaron Bradshaw, from the town, was captured on footage a number of times throwing missiles at officers during the disorder on July 31, Cleveland Police said.

The force said he 'played a significant role' in the rioting.

A spokesman said: 'He demonstrated aggressive behaviour and at one point was in possession of a police-style baton - lashing out at the officers to attempt to assault them.

'Bradshaw grabbed a large wooden plank which he launched towards the officers.'

Bradshaw was jailed at Teesside Crown Court on Thursday, the force confirmed.

Cleveland Police said three other men were also jailed on Thursday in relation to the violence in Hartlepool on July 31 and Middlesbrough on August 4.

Ben Judge, 28, from Hartlepool, was jailed for three years.

The force said he threw bricks and a metal object at police during the disorder on July 31 and kicked-in a boarded-up window after pulling off the boarding.

Noman Ahmed, 24, from Middlesbrough, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after he was caught on CCTV throwing punches in a crowd of people during the rioting in the town

Jonathan Ambrose, 33, also from Middlesbrough, was identified as throwing missiles at officers during disorder on August 4.

The force said he was also found in possession of class B drugs. Ambrose was jailed for 30 months.

Meanwhile, Kerry Gove, 34, Andrew Ball, 49, and Grant Braidwood, 40 - all from Plymouth - have been jailed at Plymouth Crown Court having pleaded guilty to violent disorder following a demonstration in the Devon city on August 5.

Ball and Braidwood were both give prison terms of 32 months, while Gove was jailed for 18 months.

Holly Rust, prosecuting, described how Ball had been 'aggressive towards officers, swearing at them, squaring up to them and poured a can of drink over them'.

Ms Rust said Braidwood had attended the protest wearing a face covering which he pulled fully over his face when being filmed by police.

She said the protest as a whole had caused widespread disruption to the city, including the theatre having to cancel a performance at a £20,000 loss.

Thugs in balaclavas hurled chairs, wood and bricks at hotels on Sunday, causing thousands of pounds of damage

Serious damage has been done to buildings including hotels, libraries, local shops and homes since disorder started following violence in Southport that killed three girls

Violent thugs tried to set a hotel reported to be housing asylum seekers on fire and blocked the emergency exits in Rotherham yesterday

A police dog handler during the far-right demonstration outside the Holiday Inn Express in Rotherham

(left to right) Aaron Bradshaw, Ben Judge, Noman Ahmed, and Jonathan Ambrose have been jailed for their parts in the recent widespread disorder

Police responding to the violent protests in Hartlepool on July 31, two days after the Southport stabbings

The court heard that Ball has appeared in court previously on 51 occasions for 93 offences including racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress and for public order offences.

Braidwood had been in court previously on 27 occasions for 62 offences including assault and assaulting a police officer and public order offences.

Chris Cuddihee, defending Ball, said that Ball had been drinking during the day and had not intended to take part in the protest and was not racist.

The lawyer, who also represented Braidwood, said that he was a 'devoted father to four children' and had autistic spectrum disorder which meant he had 'tunnel vision and was unable to stop himself'.

In a separate hearing, Ms Rust said that Gove had asked police 'Are you British?', had been seen to climb on railings and had pushed and kicked out at a police officer's shield.

Deni Matthews, defending Gove, said she was of previous good character and added: 'She expressed her own disgust at what had been said, there was clear expression of disgust at her own behaviour.'

Judge Robert Linford said: 'This city was blighted by the public disorder that there was, police turned out in force and did what they did with considerable restraint because they kept the two warring factions apart.

'The effect of the disorder was immense, pubs, shops, restaurants, theatre, even this court building closed early because of what was to come.'

(left to right) Kerry Gove, Andrew Ball and Grant Braidwood have all been jailed after admitting violent disorder

The trio were involved in violent disorder in Middlesbrough on August 4 (pictured: a police officer uses his radio as a car burns behind him)

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: 'We continue to see swift justice being done and more people feeling the full force of the law as a consequence of their actions.

'It is thanks to the hard work of people around the country and across the justice system that guilty offenders are being held to account.'